This Book Will Get You to Sleep!
by Jory John, Olivier Tallec (Illustrator)
DETAILS:
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication Date: April 05, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 32 pg.
Read Date: April 29, 2023
What’s This Book Will Get You to Sleep! About?
The book opens with a kangaroo addressing the reader in a breaking-the-fourth-wall kind of way, wanting to tell the reader that this book is going to put them to sleep. But he seems to think he needs to do a better job of getting the reader’s attention—so he breaks out a bullhorn to make that announcement.
But it doesn’t work. So he tries a handful of different methods to put the reader to sleep—like:
“about fifty ELCECTIC GUITARS jamming out on some WICKED ENDLESS guitar solos”
“about fifty CAR ALARMS going off simultaneously”
a stadium full of animals chanting “FALL ASLEEP! FALL ASLEEP! FALL ASLEEP!”
This goes on for some time before the kangaroo comes up with something that might actually work.
Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute
Tallec knocked it out of the park with this art—each page has so much going on that pre-readers can likely have a great time just going through the pages and looking at the pictures.
The facial expressions of all the characters—particularly the kangaroo–are enough. Actually, what Tallec does with the characters’ eyes is enough to put a grin on my face. But when you add in the actions (and this is a very energetic book) and details of each character and the objects–this becomes a feast for the eyes.
How is it to Read Aloud?
It’s soooo much fun—there’s a lot of variety to read: there are loud parts, sound effects, and all sorts of goofy things to say. I didn’t read too much of it aloud (just a couple of pages to try), but depending on the adult doing the reading, there’s a lot of opportunity to go wild and unleash your inner Robin Williams while reading it.
So, what did I think about This Book Will Get You to Sleep!?
We all know—and many have plenty of experience to back this up—the first book or two that you read when getting someone to sleep doesn’t help them settle down. This is a great book for that slot—it’s definitely not one to put at the end of the setlist or to keep for the encore.
It’s loud, it’s energetic, it’s a great book for the reader and a child to sit and giggle at. I do wonder a little bit how long it’ll keep its charm. But then I remember how many times I watched particular episodes of Blue Clues, etc.—so, yeah, this is going to be a keeper. And I’m definitely keeping my eyes open for more from both of the author and artist(actually, I think I’ve seen a handful of titles from both before that’ve also looked good, but this was the first I picked up).
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